Not all appliances are created equal – some will require 220V while others will require 110V – and plugging the wrong appliance into the wrong plug or line will most likely result in a very frustrating consequence. Plug your 220V appliance to a 110V socket, and it won’t work as you desire. Plug a 110V appliance onto a 220V line, and you either burn your appliance or get an explosion. Anyway, always remember to read the manufacturer’s instruction before plugging anything into any socket to avoid mishaps and disappointments. To help lessen your worries, it is worth your while to know and familiarize yourself which appliances require a 220V line, and so here is a list of some of them.

Kitchen Appliances
Most kitchen appliances require a 220V power line, mainly because they are heavy duty appliances and require enough electrical power in order to run. This includes your cooking appliances, namely the electric stove and the microwave oven. Some (not all) electric thermos also require 220V, especially if they are made in foreign countries (plugging it in a 110V socket will take a long time for the water to heat up hot enough for a decent cup of coffee – if it heats up at all). Refrigerators and heavy duty freezers will also require a 220V line, and so will dishwashers and disposal units (although the last two can be wired on a single circuit).

Laundry Appliances
Washing machines, especially the heavy duty ones (like those used in laundry shops) must also be plugged into 220V sockets, so do dryers of the same built and make.

Heating and Cooling Systems
Water heaters, whether it be gas or electric, will require 220V to run, as well as other heating systems that you installed in your home. Cooling systems like air conditioners and others also need 220V, and on a side note, it is best to have a dedicated line or circuit for each of these.

Outdoor Appliances
Aside from your outdoor lighting fixtures and wall outlets, some appliances or fixtures used in the outdoors require 220V in order to run. These include pool heaters, Jacuzzi (if you’re lucky enough to have one), fountains, and appliances that you use in the workshop like welding machines, power saws and the likes.

Updating your home’s electrical wiring can be a very expensive endeavor, but considering all the benefits that come with it, every penny is surely worth it. However, being so expensive, you don’t want it to be replaced if there is no actual need to do so, so in order to make sure that you won’t be needlessly spending money, here are some considerations taking note of.

Old Homes and Old Wires Don’t Mix
If your house was built around the earlier half of the 20th century, then you can be sure that your house’s electrical wiring system needs updating. Older electrical wiring systems make use of ancient materials which are no longer deemed safe by fire departments and home safety inspectors because of the following reasons:

• They are most likely worn out. If you haven’t had your electrical wirings replaced in the past few decades, they are most likely to be worn out right now due to the normal wear and tear that all electrical systems go through. Aside from that, rodents may have also chewed on your wires (yes, they do that) and these exposed wires can pose serious fire hazards.

• They are unable to meet our needs. Compared to the past, we demand more from our electrical systems nowadays. Before, the only things that require electrical power are simple appliances like TV, radio, and lighting fixtures. Now, aside from these, we also have microwave ovens, water heaters, air conditioning systems, computers, and not to mention the number of gadgets and mobile devices that we have to charge every day. All these require more efficient power systems, and older electrical systems usually aren’t capable of this.

Plan for the Future
As mentioned earlier, updating your electrical wirings can cost a lot of money, so if you are going to spend, be sure to spend wisely. That being said, it is often better to consider using high grade electrical materials that will still be acceptable and able to handle our electrical needs 10 years from now. Remember that innovation is moving pretty fast these days, and before you know it, you will have more appliances that need to be plugged and installed. To be able to effectively plan this out, it would be a great idea to consult a professional electrician who can help you plan an electrical system that will keep your house and appliances powered for years to come.